Automobile and vehicle locking device



T. J. wrLLETT.

AUTOMOBILE AND VEHICLE LOCKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED` Nov. 6. ma.

Patentled May 16, i922.

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"ra r r We TOMAS@ J". WLLETT, 0F LOUISVILLE, KEN'LTJCY.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ltay 13, 1922.

Application led November 6, 1919. Serial'No. 336,175.

T 0 all whom t may con/@Wwf Be it known that I, TOMASO J. 1NILLETT, a citizen or' the'United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jeiierson and State of Kentuckyghave invented a new and useful Automobile and Vehicle Locking Device, of which the following is a specification. l

My invention relates to vehicle locks and while it is applicable to various forms of vehicles it is particularly adapted for use in connection with automobiles.

' It is my purpose to provide a lock of this type which will be eiicient in use, simple in construction, relatively cheap to manu- 4facture, easily applied to a vehicle, and when so applied easily operated to effect the locked and unlocked status of an adjacent wheel of the vehicle.

Vfith the Jroregoing and other purposes in view my invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination ot parts to be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. ln describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which" i Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a fragment ot an automobile axle and a supporting wheel showing my invention applied and with the latter disposed in locked relation to the wheel;

Fig. 2, a plan view of my lock detached;

Fig. 3, a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. t, a section on the line 4--1 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing A. indicates the front axle ot au automobile, B the steering knuckle, and C the wheel associated with the knuckle.

My improved lock is shown comprising a U-shaped member D including arms 10 and 11. This member is first disposed in embracing relation to the axle A and I then secure to the tree ends of the arms 10 and 11 tubular members 12 and 13 respectively. rllhe attachment of the members 12 and 13 to the arms 10 and 11 is accomplished by means of threaded studs 1li and 15 which are screwed into recesses 16 and 17 formed in the tree ends or' the arms 10 and 11. My improved lock further embodies a chain 18 which is slidably engaged in the tubular members 12 and 13, said chain being held against disengagement from the members 12 and 13 by means ot rings'y 19 secured respectively to the ends of the chain. Surrounding that portion of the chain 18 on the end of the members 12 and 13 remote from the wheel C is a spiral spring 20 which abuts the members 12 and 13 respectively at its ends and serves to normally hold the chain l13 in the position shown in Fig. 1.

In order to support the chain and spring 20 I provide a tubular casing 21 having one end partially closed by a central filler 22 which forms cylindrical passages 23 and 241 which receive the tubular members 12 and 13 respectively and directly above these passages l slot the casing 21 yas at 25 and 2G, said slots receiving the arms 10 and 11 of the member D as will be obvious. lWhen the casing 21 is applied it is secured in place by means ot screws 27. The entire structure is' then locked against movement on the axle A by means of a binding screw (28, which latter is mounted in the arm connecting portion of the member D.

.ln operating the lock so as to secure the wheel C .against rotation the ends of the chain 18 are pulled toward the wheel C 0 against the influence ot the spring 20 and a suitable lock 29 is then employed by passing its shackle around one of the spokes ot the wheel and thenthrough the rings 19. i

lVhile I have shown the anchoring element employed in my lockingdevice as a chain it will be obvious that a U-shaped rod could also be employed in lieu thereof or any other suitable anchoring element that would meet the conditions disclosed in the operation ot my invention.

lVhile l have illustrated and described one particular form o'l carrying my invention into practice it will be obvious that various changes in details and proportions can be resorted to without departing from the scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims. f

I claim:

1. A kvehicle loclr comprising a member adapted to be secured to the axle of a` vehicle in proximity to' a supporting wheel, said member having a pair of parallel passages therein, an anchorino element having its end portions .slidable 1n said passages respectively and held against disengageengaged in both of said passages and held lagainst disengagement from the member, spring means constantly tending to hold said chain at the limit o'lf its movement in one direction, and a loclr engageable with lboth ends of the chain to connect the same With an adjacent wheel.

3. iai vehicle lool; comprising a member adapted to be secured to the raxle 0l a vehiclein proximity to a supporting Wheel, said member having a pair of parallel pasn sages therein, an anchoring chain -slidably engaged in both' of said passages and held against disengagement from the member, a coil spring siiirrounding the chain and bear ing at its ends against the member to normally holdl said chain at the limit of its movement in one direction, and a lock engageable -With both ends of the chain to connect the same yWith an adjacent Wheel.

4L. A vehicle leek eomgrising` va lul-shaped member adapted `to be secured to the axle oli a. vehicle in proximity to a supporting Wheel, tubular elements lsecured to the free ends yof the arms of said member, an anchoring chain slidably engaged through `both of said elements and held against disengagement therefrom, a coil spring suri'oiinding the chain and bearing at its ends against the elements respectively to normally hold saidchain at the limit oi: its movement in one direction, and a loelr engageable with both ends of the chain to conneet the same with an adjacent Wheel.

5. vehicle vloch comprising a member adapted t0 be secured to the axle oi" a vehicle in proximity to a supporting Wheel, said member havingA a pair of parallel passages therein, an anchoring chain slidably engaged in. both oil? said passages and vheld against disengagement 'from the member, a coil spring surrounding the chain and bearing at its ends against the member to normally hold said chain at the limit of its movement in one'direction, a 4'tubular element secured to the n einher and receiving and supporting both the chain and spring 'wl en they are in normal position, and a lock engageable `with both ends of `the chain to.

connect the same with an adjacent Wheel.

6. ln a locking device for vehicles, a

Aeasing provided with a longitudinally ex- ,reim-iso y J. WrLLnfrr. 1Witnesses .'l. L. BLOCK, JOHN GHR. 

